Dispensing device



Oct. 27, 1953 J. W. RICH DISPENSING DEVICE zsheets-sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1951 Fuu. runu 2 TSP zFuLLTuRNsl INVENTOR. JOHN {4/ Q/CH Oct. 27, 1953 2,656,953

J. W. RICH DISPENSING DEVICE Filed June 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN h/ ,Q/CH

Y B @www Patented Oct. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING DEVICE John W. Rich, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application J une 25, 1951, Serial No. 233,300

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to dispensing from non-collapsible containers by forcible extrusion and more specifically to a dispensing attachment applicable to standard types of commercial containers or cans of shortening compounds, etc. of a pasty or viscous nature.

The principal object of the invention is to provide dispensing means which can be constructed to t and readily be attached to, or mounted on, the standard sizes of containers, usually cans, in which substances of the nature above mentioned are marketed. Another object is to make such an attachment which will substitute for the original cover of a container and form a tight closure therefor when not being operated to dispense the contained material. In its broader aspect, the present invention represents species or modiflcations of that disclosed in inventors cop-ending application for patent Serial No. 216,794 filed March 21, 1951, now abandoned.

The foregoing objects are attained by providing certain novel forms of dispensing attachments tting on and within a container, in lieu of its original cover, including means for securely clamping them in position. These and other advantages are provided by the structural embodiments of the invention hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure l is a side view of one form of the attachment as combined with a container;

Figure 2 is a top View of same;

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the combined container and attachment on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail showing the extruding piston shown in section in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of another form of attachment in mounted position on a container;

Figure 6 is a vertical section viewed on the line 6-5 of Figure 5, and

Figure 'Z is a horizontal section viewed on the line '.e-l of Figure 6.

For the purposes of this disclosure, the novel structures are shown as in position, or mounted on, a conventional pound or quart can C from which the original cover has been removed.

In the species of Figures 1 to 4, the dispensing device which mounts on the can as a substitute for the cover consists of a cylindrical sleeve I0 designed to telescope within and throughout the depth of the can adjacent its inner wall. At the proper p-lace in its length, sleeve Il) is provided with an external circumferential shoulder I I `(Figure 3) the lower edge of which engages the upper edge of the container or can Il and serves as a stop for gauging proper insertion of the sleeve In within the can. The shoulder II is straddled by a split clamping band I2 having an upper lip I2a in engagement with the upper edge of shoulder I and a somewhat shorter lower lip 12b which engages Vthe upper outer surface of can C. Many i such cans are formed with a marginal rib below which the lip 12b is designed to engage as shown. The clamping band .I2 is preferably attached to sleeve III at a point diametricaily opposite its split or point of separation. It is preferably ,formed of somewhat resilient plastic material, or metal, thus providing opposite arcuate arms which are drawn together to a clamping relation with can C as by means of a toggle `clamp .I3 (Figure 1) The clamping band I2 is intended to be grasped in a `users hand during operation of the device Vand for that reason is preferably formed with a slightly concaved and corrugated or ribbed outer surface, as best shown in Figure 1, to aiox'd a secure grip.

The dispensing or extruding mechanism mounted on and within sleeve I0 consists of an outlet tube I4 which extends the length of the sleeve at one side. The upper end of this tube has a right angled extension `Ill leading to an extrusion opening in sleeve Il) located above band I2. This opening is located between external parallel guides I6 on the sleeve which retain a slidable shut-orf l 1. Tube I4 also serves to guide and prevent rotation of a plunger or piston I8 which has an aperture Isa receiving tube I4. Piston I8 is preferably formed with radial reinforcing ribs |817 extending from its central opening and carries a flexible washer I9, the periphery of which wipes the inner surface of sleeve IIJ. The central opening 20 of piston I9 is screw threaded for engagement with a central screw threaded post 2l on which it travels. The upper Aend of post ZI is iixed to a cover plate 22 which seals the upper end of sleeve I0 in rotatable contact with its upper edge. A clamp screw 23 threaded into a squared end on post `2I which ts a compiemental aperture in cover 22 is preferably used to unite the post and cover. The cover 22 is preferably provided with a crank knob 24 and with suitable directional indexes in its circumference, as at 25, designed to be rotated into registration with an index arrow 26 on sleeve I0. Air vents may `be provided in the upper part of sleeve I0, as at 2l, to permit escape of Vair when piston I8 is moved down to the can load at initial operation, the piston being then at the top of post 2 I.

With the above embodiment of the invention, the extruding mechanism comprising sleeve I0 and parts mounted .thereon is telescoped into a full can from which the original cover has been removed, to the position seen in Figure 3. The clamping band I2 is then locked by means of the toggle I3 thereby firmly uniting the can and extruding mechanism. Any material displaced by insertion of the sleeve together with tube I4 and post 2| will be accommodated within the sleeve above the can edge but below the level of contact with post 45. 30 can be rotated within cover 31 to move baille 36 relatively' to baille 41. As cover 31 is above the 3 the air vents 21. The device may then be operated by grasping the clamp band |2 in one hand and turning the cover Z2 clockwise with the other by means of knob 24 thereby turning post 2| also. This will cause piston I8 to be moved downward from its initial position at the top of post.

2| into contact with the can contents. Further movement will compress the contents forcing some through tube i4, i5, to the outlet. The pitch of the threads on post 2| is so gauged as to cause a predetermined amount of material to be forced out by travel of piston |8 at each full turn of cover 22. By way of example, the cover in Figure 2 is shown as carrying one possible directional form of index.

In the species illustrated by Figures 5 to '1, a cylindrical sleeve telescopes within a can C, as in the first described species. An offset shouldered clamping band 3| which is preferably ilxed to sleeve 30 at one side thereof, as at 32 (Figure 6), extends around the can and is split to form two somewhat resilient arcuate arms terminating in outstanding lugs 33. The inner side of the shouldered edge 34 of the offset band 3| rests on the upper edge of the can C and serves as a stop which gauges correct telescopic insertion of sleeve 30 within the can. A clamp bolt 35 or the like connects the lugs 33 and serves to clamp the arms of band 3| firmly on the can. As a component part thereof sleeve 3B carries a vertical wing or baille 36 extending radially inward from the inner wall of the sleeve to which it is fixed as by keying, as shown. The lower edge of baille 36 is even with the lower edge of sleeve 30 but at the upper edge baille 36 is extended somewhat above the sleeve as seen in Figure 6.

The sleeve 30 carries a lid or cover 31 with a depending skirt 33, the lower inner side of which has a friction i'lt with the outer side of sleeve 30 and with the shoulder 34 of clamping band 3l. Cover 31 is, therefore, positioned above the top of can C with the greater portion of skirt 38 Vabove the top edge of sleeve 30. In that portion, the skirt 33 is provided on one side with a dispensing aperture 39 from which contained material can be extruded. The cover 31 is preferably formed with a countersunk segment 40 housing a swinging arm 4| which extends radially from the center of the cover 31. Arm 4| has a depending closure lip 42 in frictional engagement with skirt 38 and movable over or away from aperture 39 as by means of a thumb piece 43. The center of the cover 31 is formed with a perforation receiving a reduced screw threaded spindle 44 on the upper end of a depending central post 45. Post 45 is preferably formed with a flared base or foot 46 adapted to contact the bottomof can C. Post 45 carries a vertical wing or baille 41 which is fixed thereto and extends radialllT therefrom to approximate contact with sleeve 3). The upper edge of baille 41 is preferably Iixed to cover 31 too and is positioned adjacent to aperture 39. Cover 31 is counter-sunk around the opening for spindle 44 to house the trunnion 48 on a screw nut 49 on spindle 44. Trunnion 48 serves as the pivot for arm 4| and nut 49 locks post 45 and wing 41 securely in position on cover 31.

Clamping of band will clamp or lock can C to sleeve 30 so that the two constitute a unit. The wing or baille 36 on sleeve 39 extends approximately the radius of sleeve 30 into substantial Therefore, can C and sleeve top of can C space is provided there for receiving material forced out when the device is inserted in a full can and for material under pressure during operation. This space is included by the bailles 36 and 41 which extend above the can top, as seen in Figure 2. Like the species rst described, the device is intended to be mounted on an open full can as a unit, the sleeve 30, etc. being pressed down into it until the under side of shoulder 34 contacts the edge of the can top. The clamp 'band 3| carries scale markings 5U which are graduated in a manner to indicate quantity of material which will be extruded from aperture 39 at each step on the scale upon rotation of band 3| with respect to cover 31 the skirt 38 of which carries a complemental index arrow 5|.

With aperture 39 open, extrusion of material is effected by clockwise rotation of can C with respect to cover 31, can C being, in effect, a unit with sleeve 30 and baille 36. Should each division on scale 50 represent a tablespoonful of material, rotation of can C by one hand while the other holds cover 31 against rotation will bring successive marks on the scale to the arrow and cause a tablespoonful of material to be extruded for each division passed. As baille 41 is a unit with cover 31 and baille 36 is a unit with can C and sleeve 30, clockwise movement of baille 36 will cause material confined between fixed baille 41 and movable baille 36 to be put under compression and forcibly extruded through aperture 39.

Accordingly, the invention presents a simple and emcient dispensing device adapted for telescopic connection with standard types of containers in substitution for the original cover. It allords complete protection to contained material and provides for dispensing it in accurately measured quantities without contact with the users hands.

The preferred embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are Subj ect to variations in structural details without departure from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

A dispensing attachment for open top cans containing viscous matter, comprising a cylindrical sleeve having a lower portion adapted to be telescoped within a canl a circumferential shoulder on the outer side of said sleeve adapted to engage a can edge and gauge depth of insertion of the sleeve therein, a split clamping band straddling said shoulder and providing arcuate arms adapted to be clamped to a can in encircling relation thereto, said sleeve being formed with an outlet aperture in its portion above said shoulder, an outlet tube leading from said outlet to the lower end of said sleeve and having a straight portion in spaced relation thereto, a central threaded post fixed to the cover and extending downward within the sleeve in parallel relation to said straight tube position, a piston threaded on said post and formed with an aperture slidably engaging the straight tube portion, and means for rotating the cover and post to effect axial movement of the piston.

JOHN W. RICH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 835,606 Frimand Nov. 13, 1906 2,051,736 Misfeldt Aug. 18, 1936 

